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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251008T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251008T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250521T191729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250705T220526Z
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SUMMARY:Putin's War Against the West with John J. Sullivan
DESCRIPTION:Ambassador John J. Sullivan\, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation\, was recently named a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Columbia Law School’s National Security Law Program. He is a partner in Mayer Brown’s Washington DC and New York offices and co-leads the firm’s National Security practice. \nAmbassador Sullivan’s career spans four decades in public service in prominent diplomatic and legal positions under five U.S. presidents. His earlier positions included Deputy Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush\, following his service from 2005 to 2007 as the general counsel of the department. In President Bush’s first term\, he served as deputy general counsel of the Defense Department. In the George H.W. Bush Administration\, Ambassador Sullivan was counselor to Assistant Attorney General J. Michael Luttig in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. \nIn private practice at Mayer Brown\, which he first joined in 1993\, Ambassador Sullivan has been a member of the Supreme Court and Appellate practice and was a co-founder of the National Security practice. \nAmbassador Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University and his law degree from the Columbia University School of Law\, where he was Book Reviews Editor of the Columbia Law Review. He was a law clerk for Associate Justice David H. Souter of the Supreme Court of the United States\, and for Judge John Minor Wisdom of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His many professional honors include the Distinguished Alumnus Award of Columbia Law School’s DC Alumni Association. \nThis luncheon event is being held at the McGlinn Conference Center\, Alvernia University \nClick here to register for this live event now \nClick here to register for this webinar now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/midnight-in-moscow-with-ambassador-john-j-sullivan/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/John_J_Sullivan.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250521T195501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250831T151134Z
UID:8247-1762947000-1762954200@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:ISIS Funding and the Future of Terrorism with Colin P. Clarke
DESCRIPTION:Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the RAND Corporation\, where his research focuses on terrorism\, insurgency and criminal networks. At RAND\, Clarke has directed studies on ISIS financing\, the future of terrorism and transnational crime\, and lessons learned from all insurgencies between the end of WWII and 2009. \nIn addition to his work at RAND\, he is an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT)-The Hague\, in the Netherlands\, and a lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University where he teaches courses on terrorism\, insurgency and the future of warfare. \nClarke has briefed his research at a range of national and international security forums\, including the U.S. Army War College\, US Air Force Special Operations School\, Society for Terrorism Research International Conference\, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and the Counter ISIS Financing Group (CIFG)\, which is part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. \nHe appears frequently in the media\, has been quoted in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, and The Wall Street Journal\, and has published his research in Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, The Atlantic\, Politico\, Lawfare\, and numerous scholarly journals\, including Small Wars & Insurgencies\, Historical Methods\, and Military Operations Research. \nClarke is the author of Terrorism\, Inc.: The Financing of Terrorism\, Insurgency\, and Irregular Warfare\, published in 2015 by Praeger Security International and is currently working on Terrorism: The Essential Reference Guide\, also by Praeger and due to be published in 2018. He received his Ph.D. in international security policy from the University of Pittsburgh. \nThis will be a hybrid event with the luncheon speaker live on zoom. \nClick here to register for this live event now \nAttend Virtually (Zoom Webinar)
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/8247/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Clarke.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250521T192830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T173833Z
UID:8237-1765366200-1765373400@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North with Mary Thompson Jones
DESCRIPTION:Mary Thompson-Jones\, Ed.D. is a Professor at the U.S. Naval War College. Before joining the USNWC\, she directed a master’s program in Global Studies at Northeastern University. \nPrior to entering academia\, she had a highly successful diplomatic career\, spanning 23 years a as U.S. Foreign Service Officer in leadership roles in the Czech Republic\, Canada\, Guatemala\, Spain\, and Washington\, D.C. She retired with the rank of Minister-Counselor\, having received several Superior and Meritorious Honor awards along the way. \nDr. Thompson-Jones’ new book\, America in the Arctic\, Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North\, has been praised by Sen. Angus King\, I-ME\, as “a finely crafted chart that can guide us through rough seas ahead to a peaceful and prosperous future\,” and by Amb. Paula Dobriansky\, former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs\, as “a compelling testament to the importance of U.S. engagement and a must-read for policymakers.” She is also the author of To the Secretary: Leaked Embassy Cables and America’s Foreign Policy Disconnect \nRegister to Attend Virtually \nRegister to Attend Live
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/america-in-the-arctic-foreign-policy-and-competition-in-the-melting-north-with-mary-thompson-jones/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jones.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250521T202156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T161744Z
UID:8251-1768390200-1768397400@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:Transatlantic Security in an Era of Great Power Competition with Dr. Andrew T. Wolff
DESCRIPTION:Andrew T. Wolff\, Associate professor of political science and international studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle\, PA. My primary research concerns are NATO\, European security\, and American foreign policy. At Dickinson\, he teaches courses on American foreign policy\, European security\, national security\, international diplomacy\, and international relations.  \nIn the Fall 2021 semester he was in Brussels\, Belgium as a Fulbright NATO Security Studies scholar. He was also a visiting professor with the College of Europe in Bruges\, Belgium teaching courses on European defense and security governance in Europe. \nWolff is an Associate Professor of International Studies & Political Science. Contributing faculty to Security Studies program. \nClick here to register for this live event now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/europe-and-nato-with-dr-andrew-t-wolff/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wolffan.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250822T173513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T145857Z
UID:8367-1770809400-1770816600@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:Securing the Indo-Pacific: Strategies for Keeping the Peace - Dr. Ely Ratner
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Ely Ratner served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. Prior to confirmation\, he served as the Director\, DoD China Task Force and as a Senior Advisor to China to the Secretary of Defense. Before arriving at the Department of Defense\, Dr. Ratner was the Executive Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)\, where he was a member of the executive team and responsible for managing the Center’s research agenda and staff. \nDr. Ratner served from 2015 to 2017 as the Deputy National Security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden\, and from 2011 to 2012 in the office of Chinese and Mongolian affairs at the State Department. He also previously worked in the U.S. Senate as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and in the office of Senator Joe Biden. Outside of government\, Dr. Ratner has worked as a Senior Fellow for China Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations\, a Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at CNAS\, and as an Associate Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation. \nClick here to attend live \nClick here to register for this webinar now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/securing-the-indo-pacific-strategies-for-keeping-the-peace-dr-ely-ratner/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/210830-D-D0439-030.JPG.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260311T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260311T133000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250820T182050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T142434Z
UID:8360-1773228600-1773235800@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:The Plight of the Kurds with Kani Xulam
DESCRIPTION:Kani Xulam is a native of Kurdistan. He studied International Relations at the University of Toronto\, holds a BA in history from the University of California Santa Barbara and an MA in the International Service program at American University. \nAt the University of Toronto\, he represented Kurdistan at the Model United Nations\, which passed a nonbinding resolution recognizing the right of the Kurdish people to self-determination.\nAt the University of California Santa Barbara\, he was part of a group of peace activists who protested the first Gulf War by taking part in a sit-in at Chancellor’s office in January 1991. Everyone was arrested. Mr. Xulam pled not guilty\, defended himself\, and was sentenced to 18 hours of community service to plant saplings in Santa Barbara. \nIn 1993\, at the urging of Kurdish community leaders in America\, he left his family business in Santa Barbara\, California to establish the American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) in the nation’s capital. AKIN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering Kurdish-American understanding and friendship. \nClick here to register for this live event now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/the-plight-of-the-kurds-with-kani-xulam/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/images.jpeg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20251113T215841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T154744Z
UID:8433-1775647800-1775653200@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:Venezuela\, An  Update with Dr. Paul Esqueda
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Paul D. Esqueda is a Professor Emeritus Engineering. His areas of interest are project management\, negotiations\, and operations management. He has a particular interest in developing negotiation case studies. For the last 30 years\, Esqueda has been primarily dedicated to administration in academic institutions. Past positions include Division Head of Engineering\, Business\, and Computing at Penn State Berks; Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Administration (IESA) in Caracas\, Venezuela and President of the Engineering Research Institute also in Caracas. Esqueda served as a consultant for the European Union to review the European Union Latin American Scholarship Program from 2003-2008. He was part of a 20 expert panel (10 from Europe and 10 from Latin America) that met every year in Brussels to audit the program and advise the EU on the development of the program. \nClick here to register for this webinar now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/venezuela-an-update-with-dr-paul-esqueda/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/paul-esqueda-web.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T235850
CREATED:20250820T183033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260404T135905Z
UID:8363-1778671800-1778677200@wacreading.org
SUMMARY:Middle East Tensions with Michael O'Hanlon
DESCRIPTION:Michael O’Hanlon is a senior fellow\, and director of research\, in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution\, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy\, the use of military force\, and American national security policy. He co-directs the Security and Strategy Team\, the Defense Industrial Base working group\, and the Africa Security Initiative within the Foreign Policy program\, as well. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia\, Georgetown\, and Syracuse universities\, and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. O’Hanlon was also a member of the External Advisory Board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-2012. \nO’Hanlon’s latest books include: The Senkaku Paradox: Risking Great Power War over Limited Stakes (Brookings\, 2019); Beyond NATO: A New Security Architecture for Eastern Europe (Brookings\, 2017); The Future of Land Warfare (Brookings\, 2015); and Strategic Reassurance and Resolve: U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century (with Jim Steinberg\, Princeton University Press\, 2014). Previously\, he wrote Bending History: Barack Obama’s Foreign Policy (with Martin Indyk and Kenneth Lieberthal\, Brookings\, 2012); A Skeptic’s Case for Nuclear Disarmament (Brookings\, 2010); The Science of War (Princeton University Press\, 2009); Crisis on the Korean Peninsula (with Mike Mochizuki\, McGraw-Hill\, 2003); Winning Ugly: NATO’s War to Save Kosovo (with Ivo Daalder\, Brookings\, 2000); and Technological Change and the Future of Warfare (Brookings\, 2000)\, among others. \nO’Hanlon has written several hundred op-eds in newspapers including The Washington Post\, The New York Times\, The Los Angeles Times\, The Washington Times\, The Financial Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, The Japan Times\, USA Today\, and Pakistan’s Dawn paper. His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs\, The National Interest\, Survival\, Washington Quarterly\, Joint Forces Quarterly\, and International Security\, among other publications. O’Hanlon has appeared on television or spoken on the radio some 4\,000 times since eptember 11\, 2001. \nO’Hanlon was an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office from 1989-1994. He also worked previously at the Institute for Defense Analyses. His Ph.D. from Princeton is in public and international affairs; his bachelor’s and master’s degrees\, also from Princeton\, are in the physical sciences. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Congo/Kinshasa (the former Zaire) from 1982-1984\, where he taught college and high school physics in French. Earlier\, he worked on a dairy farm in Upstate New York\, where he grew up\, and attempted (unsuccessfully) with a team of Princeton experimental physicists in the “Gravity Group” to disprove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. \nClick here to attend live \nClick here to register for this webinar now
URL:https://wacreading.org/event/middle-east-tensions-with-michael-ohanlon/
LOCATION:McGlinn Conference Center\, 460 Saint Bernardine Street\, Reading\, PA\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Luncheon Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wacreading.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-30-at-1.05.07 PM.png
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